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OPINION

Will Musharraf respond?
J. N. RAINA

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is dreaming a dream about Kashmir. He has a vision and a roadmap for the undivided state of Jammu and Kashmir. His announcement at the roundtable Conference in Srinagar, to set-up five ‘working groups’, aimed at peaceful and everlasting resolution of the contentious Kashmir tangle, has been acclaimed widely. Neither any breakthrough nor miracles were expected at the conference, because the Kashmir valley continues to remain a haven for militants. The atmosphere has still not been conducive, where people can breathe freely; and where people can be free from terror. But the steps he has taken are bound to galvanise secular and democratic forces on either side of the LoC, to bring peace.

Manmohan Singh has offered amnesty to Kashmiri militants, but only ‘if they abjure violence’. He in fact turned tables on the separatists--- including the much-solicited Hurriyat Conference, which stayed away from the conference on flimsy grounds--- by offering to review cases of all Kashmiri detainees, including those who have crossed over LoC “ after violating our laws, and who are now anxious to come home”.

The PM even opened doors and windows for the indigenous militant organization, Hizbul Mujahideen, an offshoot of the Jamaat-e-Islami, to join the Table at the next round, if they lay down arms. It had been the separatists’ long standing demand to provide the Kashmiri militants’ a safe passage and amnesty. The demand was supported by former chief minister Mufti Mohammad Sayed and his daughter, People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Chief, Ms Mehbooba Mufti. The Hizbul Mujahideen recently issued a statement that talks at the Roundtable Conference were bound to fail, unless they (militants) are involved. The PM replied thus: “Ways and means can be worked out to engage them in a dialogue process if they abjure violence”.

The PM has a big dream of providing a ‘healing touch’ not only to Kashmiris, but also to those across the dejure border in PoK, where economic development is stagnant and democracy is lacking. He has sought ‘identification of institutional arrangements’ to help bring the divided people on either side of the LoC closer.

Manmohan Singh has perhaps been influenced by a recent statement of Arif Shahid, ‘Secretary General of Jammu Kashmir National Liberation Front’ (of PoK) that “people in Azad Kashmir are struggling against Pakistani rule. Islamabad controls PoK which has been created only to incite the people on the Indian side of Kashmir for armed struggle”. Even M. A. K. Khaleeque, ‘Vice-Chairman of All Parties National Alliance’, which functions from Muzaffarabad, headquarters of PoK, has expressed similar concern that “People in Pakistan-administered Kashmir do not have rights which free people should have. And there is no democracy in our part of Kashmir and human rights violations are common place”.

The moderate Hurriyat leaders, led by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, did not want to join the Srinagar Roundtable, called by the Prime Minister, along with the ‘crowd’ of mainstream politicians, because they are separatists. Syed Ali Shah Geelani, leader of the breakaway faction of the Hurriyat, has contended that Roundtable Conference is a ‘sell out, aimed at converting the LoC into a permanent border’. Some other separatists thought it would be a ‘political suicide to sit with mainstream politicians across the Roundtable’. This is contrary to the opinion held by political activists in PoK, where people feel that public opinion has considerably changed in Jammu and Kashmir and even in PoK.

The Centre has a right to talk to every group. When the problem of such a dimension is to be discussed threadbare, opinion of every political outfit and individuals has to be sought, whether collectively or separately. The Hurriyat has no right to set pre-conditions. Now coming to the brass tacks and the composition of the working groups, the PM has directed Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, to nominate members to these groups. Naturally, they will be drawn from among the mainstream politicians.

One group will deal with the ‘homecoming’ of militants, providing ‘healing touch’ therapy to people affected by militancy. The second group is to explore ways and means of strengthening people- to- people contact across the LoC. It will look into cross-LoC tourism, a new concept. The third group will deal with economic regeneration of the entire region. Care has to be taken for a balanced sub-regional development and generation of employment opportunities. The fourth group will be entrusted with the task of local self-governance. This group will specifically ‘institutionalise’ steps to ensure ‘zero tolerance’ for human rights violations and explore possibilities of increasing ‘responsiveness and accountability’. It will have to effectively monitor local self-governance, strengthen the right to information and provide security to residents.

Most important working group will deal with political issues, aimed at “strengthening relations between the State and the Centre”. The PM’s instructions for this strategic group are clear; to discuss proposals like ‘self-rule and autonomy’ and matters relating to the ‘special status of Jammu and Kashmir within the Indian union’. While the National Conference, led by its patron Dr Farooq Abdullah, is keen for more autonomy, the PDP has laid stress on ‘self-rule’ as envisioned by Musharraf.

Although Azad had deviated from the policy of his predecessor, Mufti Mohammad Sayed, of providing relief even to the families of slain militants, the PM wants to revert back to that policy. He has his own explanation: “… in our effort at nation building, it is important we win back as our own the destitute families of those terrorists who have been killed in police action”. He wants the government to support such families, notwithstanding criticism from the opposition parties.

Manmohan Singh, perhaps to placate Pervez Musharraf, has clearly exhibited his road map for ‘self-governance’ on both sides of the LoC through opening up of ‘economic and political contacts’ in the three regions of Jammu, Ladakh and Kashmir. However, divergent opinions were expressed at the conclave, on the concept of ‘self-rule’, with Farooq Abdullah talking about maximum autonomy, PDP’s Mehbooba Mufti advocating ‘self-rule’ (toeing Musharraf’s line), Jammu and Kashmir Finance Minister Muzaffar Hussain Beg (PDP) suggesting federalism through regional councils and Ladakh leader P Namgyal preferring union territory status for Ladakh region, to the chagrin of those from Kargil, dominated by the Shia sect of the Muslim community.

Whatever be the outcome of these discussions, India must take a stern posture and tell Pakistan to dry up its tap of terrorism if that country is sincere in meaningful talks. Pakistan should refrain from using terrorism as a bargaining tool to deal with India.


Courtesy : Syndicate Features

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